1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place in New York City from July 1981 to May 1984. This play involves Ned and his struggles while watching his friends die from an unknown disease. This disease was only affecting sexually active gay men. Because of this effect, many doctors were reluctant to let the press and other gay men know about this strange disease. In the end, the disease, later called AIDS, caused to Ned lose many people close to him.
2. What is the intrusion?
The Intrusion was towards the end of act 1 when Felix reveals to Ned that he has a purple liaison on the bottom of his foot that keeps getting bigger. This is when Ned realises he may lose the only man he has ever loved.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor was that this was the day that Mickey, Ned, and Craig decide to see Dr. Emma.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic question that should be asked by the end of the play is "How many people are going to die before the government realise it's a problem?"
*5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
One of the exposition was when the audience finds out more information about Felix and his life. The audience finds out the same time as Ned that Felix has a kid and was married before. This throws everyone off until Felix reveals that he has a purple spot on the bottom of his foot that "keeps gets bigger" and "will not go away". When Felix revealed this, it felt like the beginning of the end. This was when the audience, and I, knew Felix was going to going to die and that it was only a matter of time before he does. The second exposition was when
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
There are many theatrical moments in the play; however, the one that seems the most theatrical moment would be when Ned is coming back from buying groceries to see Felix eating junk food while sittingon the floor. Ned tries to convince Felix to eat healthier, but he refuses because he finds it pointless since he is dying anyway. This fuels an argument between them causing Ned to get so frustrated that he throws the groceries at Felix. The importance of this was to show the effects of what HIV/AIDS was having on their relationship as a whole. It was causing the bond between them to become more complicated.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Some themes of the play include self-acceptance, loss, fear, and the power of knowledge
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
What Ned wanted was for the government to acknowledge that the unknown disease was very important. He wanted more people to acknowledge that AIDS was more than a disease, it was an epidemic that was killing many healthy young men. What stood in the way of this was the prejudice society that they were living in. The society did not care much about gay men dying mostly because they were still homophobic towards the community. Many people were still distancing themselves away from anything remotely "gay".
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
One possible image in the play would be when David is coming out of Dr. Emma's office. This is when the audience is first introduced to the purple lesions. This also when the audience learns that the lesions don't go away as well as spread all over the body. The way the title helps us understand the play is that it describes the gay men in the community. It's saying that gay men are just as normal as straight men. Both have the same heart, a "normal heart". Just because someone is different does not mean they are not a normal human being. This is exactly what the play is trying to convey; even though people are different, they are still the same as any other person in the world and they deserve to be treated a decent human being.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Family relationship are somewhat of a tragedy in this play. Most of the gay men in the story are not close to their family. This is due to the fact that their family did not want to have any connections with a "homosexual". Some families did not even know their son was gay until it was too late. For example, Tommy was talking about mothers finding out about their sons dying. He said that when mothers find out their 'baby boy" was dying from "pneumonia". This shows the disconnect between gay men and their family. Felix even said a dying gay man who hasn't seen his mother in 15 years was not wanting to see his mother. The dying man was furious when Felix came in with his mom. His mom was devastated and cried holding him as he died.
The play takes place in New York City from July 1981 to May 1984. This play involves Ned and his struggles while watching his friends die from an unknown disease. This disease was only affecting sexually active gay men. Because of this effect, many doctors were reluctant to let the press and other gay men know about this strange disease. In the end, the disease, later called AIDS, caused to Ned lose many people close to him.
2. What is the intrusion?
The Intrusion was towards the end of act 1 when Felix reveals to Ned that he has a purple liaison on the bottom of his foot that keeps getting bigger. This is when Ned realises he may lose the only man he has ever loved.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor was that this was the day that Mickey, Ned, and Craig decide to see Dr. Emma.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic question that should be asked by the end of the play is "How many people are going to die before the government realise it's a problem?"
*5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
One of the exposition was when the audience finds out more information about Felix and his life. The audience finds out the same time as Ned that Felix has a kid and was married before. This throws everyone off until Felix reveals that he has a purple spot on the bottom of his foot that "keeps gets bigger" and "will not go away". When Felix revealed this, it felt like the beginning of the end. This was when the audience, and I, knew Felix was going to going to die and that it was only a matter of time before he does.
The second exposition was when
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
There are many theatrical moments in the play; however, the one that seems the most theatrical moment would be when Ned is coming back from buying groceries to see Felix eating junk food while sitting on the floor. Ned tries to convince Felix to eat healthier, but he refuses because he finds it pointless since he is dying anyway. This fuels an argument between them causing Ned to get so frustrated that he throws the groceries at Felix.
The importance of this was to show the effects of what HIV/AIDS was having on their relationship as a whole. It was causing the bond between them to become more complicated.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Some themes of the play include self-acceptance, loss, fear, and the power of knowledge
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
What Ned wanted was for the government to acknowledge that the unknown disease was very important. He wanted more people to acknowledge that AIDS was more than a disease, it was an epidemic that was killing many healthy young men. What stood in the way of this was the prejudice society that they were living in. The society did not care much about gay men dying mostly because they were still homophobic towards the community. Many people were still distancing themselves away from anything remotely "gay".
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
One possible image in the play would be when David is coming out of Dr. Emma's office. This is when the audience is first introduced to the purple lesions. This also when the audience learns that the lesions don't go away as well as spread all over the body.
The way the title helps us understand the play is that it describes the gay men in the community. It's saying that gay men are just as normal as straight men. Both have the same heart, a "normal heart". Just because someone is different does not mean they are not a normal human being. This is exactly what the play is trying to convey; even though people are different, they are still the same as any other person in the world and they deserve to be treated a decent human being.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Family relationship are somewhat of a tragedy in this play. Most of the gay men in the story are not close to their family. This is due to the fact that their family did not want to have any connections with a "homosexual". Some families did not even know their son was gay until it was too late. For example, Tommy was talking about mothers finding out about their sons dying. He said that when mothers find out their 'baby boy" was dying from "pneumonia". This shows the disconnect between gay men and their family. Felix even said a dying gay man who hasn't seen his mother in 15 years was not wanting to see his mother. The dying man was furious when Felix came in with his mom. His mom was devastated and cried holding him as he died.